Unless there is a trade or injury, I don't see how Lee is making this team. The team IMO will look something like this:
Nelson JT KO
Kulemin Grabo Strome
Bailey Nielsen Grabner
Martin Cizikas Clutterbuck
Conacher Boulton

I think Lee should make the team but I don't think it is the worst thing in the world if he starts out in B-port. Injuries happen and he will without a doubt be the first forward called upon in case of injury or crappy play. It sucks but it most certainly is not the end of the world.

Plus if everyone stays healthy and is playing up to par, it gives us a trade chip for a D-man or a draft pick at the deadline or even earlier.
- Dgmilazz

I'd agree, but not because this SHOULD be the case. In the lame circus act that is the NY Islanders, the guy at the top of our coaching staff is a dummy, and the owner doesn't like paying people what he's paying Bailey without having them play. However, given a REAL franchise that doesn't mind sending their sh*t to the minors, regardless of contract status, there's simply no way Bailey makes this team over Lee. No way. Bailey is f***ing worthless.

It wouldn't shock me if he puts it together for a long stretch, scores 20 goals and looks good out there on most shifts. I think I'd just rather put my money on Nielsen and Grabner helping the Isles more over the next five or so years, if it was down to trading one of the three before the season starts.

That said, I don't think we'd get a very good defenseman for Bailey, so it's probably more realistic it'll be one of the other two if a trade happens.
- UIF

I suppose his production will obviously have a lot to do with how he's used. If they're determined to justify his spot on the team, they may force Tavares to carry him, which could make him a 20 goal guy with 40 assists or so. Sounds awesome but with a guy like JT, that position should be producing close to a ppg.

I agree that I'd rather use his spot on someone who brings more to the table. Josh has excellent hands and decent vision but really doesn't seem capable of mentally processing the game fast enough. So while he sees the ice well, his decisions are always a touch late. I always held out hope that he'd get better and catch up with the speed of the game but that's just not happened. Because of that, he's a very vanilla player IMO

This from the guy who boldly boasted Poulin would be our #1 starter last season.


I am happy Amac is gone but someone else has 5 million reasons a year to disagree with you about his play. It's funny when you look at the careers of former Islanders and how they did when they went to another team. Often, they do better than they did with us. Is that coincidence?
- jmo16

The Flyers are the one franchise that does more stupid things than we do during the course of a season. They just have 100 times as much money as we do, so they can occasionally hide it- they don't have any problem paying MacDonald $5M a year to play in Allentown. Wang would have an aneurysm if Snow did something like that.

IM telling you the best two way center in game scored 68points last year.
Bailey will never be a Toews but its not all about putting up 40 goals and 50 assists.

Bailey might be disappointing till now but at 24 years old you don't give up. He not short skill, he short confidence. Too bad he has Capuano that cant extract anything out of his players.

I Can tell you give a Bailey to a Ken Hitchcock or Joel Quenville and be like wow, this kid can play.
- Spartiarti

Hockey sense- that is what he is short. WAAAAYYY short. Next time you're actually at a live game, watch him. Watch what he does, where he goes. Especially watch his decision making when he has the puck in the offensive zone. Like I said before, if I'm the coach, I'm just telling him I'm going to fine him a dollar towards the Christmas party every time he has the puck in the slot and doesn't immediately shoot it. It's not confidence- it's that, at the major league level, you can't have to stop and think about every d*mn thing you do, every step of the way, or else you'll be useless.....which he most certainly is.

Someone better be traded. Nobody better mess with my man Lee.
- ses111

What if they trade Lee?

What if they trade Lee?
- Cptmjl

Nooooooooooooooo!

It will be criminal if Lee is not starting with the Isles. I can easily see Lee developing into a 25-30 goal guy.
- ses111

i agree...

i think an argument could be made that of the 3 prospects (lee, strome, nelson) that played last year, that lee was the most consistent and nhl-ready player from the first game he saw on the ice.

i agree...

i think an argument could be made that of the 3 prospects (lee, strome, nelson) that played last year, that lee was the most consistent and nhl-ready player from the first game he saw on the ice.
- LetsGoIsles

he's also a very valuable piece in that he's a very big body that is difficult to move from the front of the net, and he actually goes there and has the hands to score from there in traffic. Every team in the NHL would love a guy like that and he should not be the odd man out in camp.

he's also a very valuable piece in that he's a very big body that is difficult to move from the front of the net, and he actually goes there and has the hands to score from there in traffic. Every team in the NHL would love a guy like that and he should not be the odd man out in camp.
- Isles_since_6

yup. he is a big boy and shouldnt "lose out" in hopes that bailey figures it out. survival of the fittest; poop or get off the pot bailey.

The Flyers are the one franchise that does more stupid things than we do during the course of a season. They just have 100 times as much money as we do, so they can occasionally hide it- they don't have any problem paying MacDonald $5M a year to play in Allentown. Wang would have an aneurysm if Snow did something like that.
- dcb1

In fairness, I think that Wang has tons of money, just that the coliseum lease is what kills any type of reward or gain for Wang. I think that if this Nassau county lease was different we could have seen a different type of team assembled without being frugal and/or being at cap floor for many years.

What if they trade Lee?
- Cptmjl

They can't. They have two thirds of a potentially classic line with him,

Ho - Lee - ....

What if they trade Lee?
- Cptmjl

I think that if the isles had to part w/1 of there stud F's in a trade, I do think that Garf would part w/Lee over Strome & Nelson.

In fairness, I think that Wang has tons of money, just that the coliseum lease is what kills any type of reward or gain for Wang. I think that if this Nassau county lease was different we could have seen a different type of team assembled without being frugal and/or being at cap floor for many years.
- Ur Not Me

Exactly.. if he had gotten his small city, the Isles would be near the top of the cap not bottom.

XxNYIxX

They can't. They have two thirds of a potentially classic line with him,

Ho - Lee - ....
- David_Volek

Ho - Lee - Cammarata?

XxNYIxX

Ho - Lee - Cammarata?

XxNYIxX
- XxNYIxX

Sounds like something Robin would say in the old Batman shows.

I think that if the isles had to part w/1 of there stud F's in a trade, I do think that Garf would part w/Lee over Strome & Nelson.
- Ur Not Me

It better be a star dman coming back if Lee, Strome or Nelson are moved.

They can't. They have two thirds of a potentially classic line with him,

Ho - Lee - ....
- David_Volek

Can we Brent-Burns Ryan Pulock?

Ho-Lee-Pulock!

Ho-Lee-Persson

Sounds like something Robin would say in the old Batman shows.
- UIF

Holy coincidence Batman!!

XxNYIxX

Ho-Lee-Persson


- eichiefs9

or trade for Nate Schmidt

Ho-Lee-Schmidt

or trade for Nate Schmidt

Ho-Lee-Schmidt


- LetsGoIsles

We have Kyle Schempp. That's close.

Ho-Lee-Schempp?

which would would you hit? hilary or bill?

lol
- Isles_since_6

I'd smack her with my fenwick.

I'd smack her with my fenwick.
- Charlie21

This too should be on a Tshirt

This too should be on a Tshirt
- keaner17

I'll get them printed up. First one goes to eichiefs.

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